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Anyone tried over the counter enzymes to help digest fat post whipple?
I had whipple surgery 3 months ago. Fortunately, I was able to keep 1/2 my pancreas. I continue to have digestive issues (frequent trips to the bathroom) because I can not process the fat. I have lost 35 lbs since the surgery. I understand that there is Rx medication which can address this issue but it is very expensive. Has anyone had the issue just go away over time (3 months is still early in the healing process) or been successful in taking an over the counter (OTC) enzyme supplement? I have ordered an enzyme supplement and will try it. I plan to post my results here but if anyone has already tried this, I am interested as to how it went or is going and what brand you tried.
Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for responding.
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If the “12” refers to the number of years post Whipple for me and the need to take enzymes, that is because in the Whipple procedure, the head of the pancreas was removed. That section consists of up to 82% of the acinar cells that produce and secrete the digestive enzymes. Unless I were to eat like a mouse a constantly throughout my waking hours to maintain a normal BMI, I could get by without it as long as I ate non-fat foods.
I prefer eating a normal diet and normal portions. Taking Rx enzymes has allowed me to maintain a less restrictive diet and eat three meals a day of portion sizes like I did before my surgery. It I has given me an excellent quality of life.
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2 ReactionsAny reason why you stopped taking enzymes I was taking Creon but it wasn’t working for EPI
I had the middle section and tail of pancreas removed during my surgery in 2022. I took Creon 36k 3x per day for about 7 months and then I got in the donut hole of Medicare and had a very large copay do I tried papaya enzymes (otc at Mother’s Market and they worked just as well and then I didn’t have them with me sometimes, but found I could eat just as well without them. According to post by @stageivsurvivor most? or all of the digestive enzymes are located in the head of the pancreas. Another post on this thread someone mentions that their dr says it takes for the pancreas digestive system to “wake up” after surgery so I guess that’s what happened to me.